Monday, December 31, 2012

Holy smokes! The 'Red October' is real!!

Russia is preparing to launch a real life 'Red October' submarine that is much like the one from the great 'Hunt for Red October' book and film! As a former radio jockey and tech-wizard I am naturally drawn to Clancys Techno-thrillers.

Here is some background on the original 'Red October':

The drama of the story partially centers around the dual capabilities of this submarine. As a submarine of the Typhoon class, it carries many ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads. With a stealthy propulsion unit, it can no longer be detected by NATO naval vessels. As described in both the book and the film, these capabilities combine to create a horrific weapon, whereby the submarine could easily reach the coastal waters of a city, like Washington DC, fire its missiles, and destroy key targets before any government or military leaders could order a counterattack.

One interpretation, as offered in the film and book, is that this submarine's existence is for one purpose: not as a deterrent to an American attack on the Soviet Union, but solely as a weapon offirst strike. It thus becomes critical for the U.S. government to see this submarine either destroyed or captured.

Super-modern, powerful and almost noiseless Russian nuclear submarine Vladimir Monomakh has been put in water to become the third ship of the Borei project. The cruiser is about to begin sea trials and mooring to become fully operational in 2013.

Vladimir Monomakh was laid down at Russia’s largest shipbuilding complex Sevmash, located on the shores of the White Sea in the town of Severodvinsk in northern Russia on March 19, 2006 – the 100th anniversary of the Russian submarine fleet.

Judging by its appearance it seems the Russians have abandoned the Typhoons classes ungainly design for a return to the more traditional 'Delta' Class designs of the 1970s and 1960s. Most likely this design is much more agile and allows the submarine to better evade Hunter/ Killers out to sink it.

Hopefully this submarines appearance is not a new signal of belligerence by the Russians. However they are perhaps 'rational actors' only taking appropriate action against war-mongering Trilaterallists and Neo-cons!